Seasonal Shopping Stresses

I need to go shopping , just my regular shop , being away from the UK for some years i forgot the big shop out frenzy that takes place the Christmas week.

I shopped on-line on Monday only to find no delivery slots until the 28th when i needed it next day really! Disappointed i went to bed , yesterday just as i was about to leave with my faithfully trolley in tow for the supermarket DH turns up and says he will take me to the superstore. The vehicle que just to get into the car park was at least one mile long. Don't people realises that's telling you something? Its full , go away? We came back home as it was pretty much the same everywhere.
Now i was getting very stressed out as i just wanted my regular weekly shop, ensuring i had a least something to cook over the 4 days shops will be closed. I am shocked at how much people buy for the four day break, its like they think the world will end tomorrow!

I got home grab my faithfully trolley (who needs a car anyhow) and two keen helpers and headed to the local supermarket. Got my veg from the market as well and came home a happier person but still stressed out. I told my son ''that's it i am not coming out until all this is over !'' I am talking after the new year here. It's all to much for me , i dislike greed, over indulgence and over spending! Christmas in the west is mere consumerism, for some its just a culture with no relevance to religion. It's this type of player that annoy's me, i hate hypocrisy and this reminds me of futile pursuits in the name of cloning.

If you want to party and exchange gifts then just do it don't wait for a consumer based society to tell you to do so!

MOONG DAL VADA

A South Indian snack made from lentils


Here is what you will need;
300 gms Moong Dal
25 gms Chopped Coriander
5 gms Cumin Seeds
1 Star anise
8 - 9 Green Chillies chopped
50 gms Onions
Salt to taste
Oil to fry


How to make moong dal vada :

Soak the moong dal in water for a couple of hours.
Grind it properly to form a smooth paste.
Blend it with chopped onions, chillies, corainder and cumin seed.
Check the salt seasoning and deep fry till golden in color.
Serve with green or any chutney of your choice.

Yummy Strawberries

Look what i did to mine, they look and taste wonderful....try it next time!


you will need;
500 g plain chocolate, or milk chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp butter
500-600 g strawberries, fresh
method;
- Clean and wash strawberries. Insert a toothpick into each strawberry.
- Put chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl. Heat in a bath of hot water, stirring occasionally until chocolate and butter melt. Leave to cool slightly but not harden.
- Hold strawberries from toothpicks and dip each strawberry into molten chocolate mixture. Turn strawberries upside down from the toothpick until chocolate holds shape. Arrange on a baking sheet until chocolate hardens.

Cheese and Potato Pie

An English tea time treat of mine although you could have it as a meal too. I learnt to cook this in Home Economics class at school. My first English Savoury dish i ever cooked. I don't cook it often if at all any more but i did last night, the family liked it!

Recipe can be found here only i don't use Mozzarella cheese i added double cream to my mash .

Garland

I had to try it after most of my crochet bloggers did. My one looked too seasonal , i did 4 snow flakes at first , have a look , just playing around really!

It's snowing outside

It's been snowing but not to thick laid on the ground............lets see if London town shuts down , as it is know too when it snows. It's the last day of school for my kiddies for the seasonal break.

I am just contemplating going food shopping and stocking up with the holidays and not having to venture out too much theses next two weeks. I have some activities planned for the kids. so lets see what unfolds.

Mug Cosy

Another great quick fix.makes a good gift to any tea lover! This one is for my DD the earl grey tea lover although its hot chocolate she has been drinking in it since.


I added sequins to this one , do you like?

Lap top Skin

The much awaited lap top skin finished at last but not liked by my DD. she would much rather use it as a clutch bag i was told.....you decide?

Have a look!

As a clutch bag

As a lap top skin

Details, Velcro fastening

Before the meeting i prepared myself over some lunch, letter in sight.

I tried out a local eatery that boast Mediterranean influence so i wanted to try. Here are some of my pictures.





My starter was delish but i felt the shawrma is better left to the Arabs and Turkish. I did like the décor , the tiles gave a great feel to the seating environment!


Another place i tried out this week with my younger two is a place called ''Afters'' I had heard a lot about its delights but it was the pink Cadillac , when i saw it, i just knew my younger two would love to dine here.


The set up is very spacious and retro in design with pink leather seating and black granite walls and tables. Hosting a vast range of delish ice cream and deserts. There is something for every one one the menu .The Italian Job being the most expensive at £25.
Here is what we had.

Girly sweet delight for DD

hot chocolate fudge cake with cream

Everything bubble gum for my DS

Over the past two weeks

The past two weeks have been demanding and stressful to say the least but somehow by the grace of my creator alhamduilah , i made it through.

Sometimes life and what happens in it can be very overwhelming and mentally exhausting at the best of times.

These two week were such, with a leaking tank that had now spilled through to the ceiling and into the down stairs Wash room blowing out the electrics in the process. What exhausted me here was the incompetence of 4 plumbers, that it took to decide what to be done. After more delay and a leak that was getting faster by the day. Finally it was remediable and fixed much to my delight. Prompting a new heating system which now in hindsight was worth the stress and incompetence as the end result is desirable.

Just getting over the leak and the cluttered home, cleaning away the workmen's presence. My DD teenager , drops a bomb on me , so it felt at the time but had my brain not been overloaded with other stuff then perhaps it would not have seemed half as serious. The think is the matter could be resolved but it was the reaction it was having on DD that was so exhausting me.

To begin with it all started with a letter, that was not received with the sincerity it was written and instead hostility developed. I needed to conduct some of my own investigation's to make sure all was what it seemed.

I am so glad i went to discuss the mater with those concerned as nothing is ever black and white and you need to hear both sides. sometimes events become piousness by others assumptions and in maturity. honesty is a key factor and if you are dealing with dishonesty then your progress will be hindered.

After a 20 minute chat all was dealt with and the objective achieved and i am so glad i went to face this in person , otherwise i may have been sitting here still overloaded and encountering the migraine that appeared last week. Alhamduilah for honesty , alhamduilah for ability and most of all alhamduilah for the power of dua!

Seasonal colours

In the UK at this time of year i notice a lot of red, i believe its to do with the pending Christmas season, all around me in the shops and high streets décor bursting with red. Sometimes glittery, i must say i like the prettiness of it all. I don't celebrate Christmas but living in the west you can not avoid it. So i just take advantage of all things seasonal at this time!
Here are some seasonal pictures of this colour around my kitchen by coincidence of course!

WIP updates

I have been crafting a lot lately mashaallah and i have to say been loving it Alhamduiah ! What a blessing from my Lord that he has blessed me with hands and a sane mind to enable me this humble pleasure. What a lot to be grateful for and not take for advantage.


A friend and sister in Islam rings me Saturday mid morning and tells me she is at a Lidil Stores and they have lots and lots of pretty yarn at cheep cheep prices, did i want her to get me some? You bet i did , she told me all the different colours ect so i picked out some and here they are yummy yarn!


As i went to refund her the cost she then informs me its even yummier as its a gift for me from her . Jazak Allahu Khyrun Ukti (may Allah bless you sister).

A scarf for the sister, this pom pom yarn works well with knitting and as you may know not a great knitter but can do the basics!

A mug cosy, not finished here in the picture , i invented my own pattern here. I am getting some Velcro today to finish it off.


This is one of my 10 minute fixes ...................Sometimes i have the spontaneous earge to create , slip into the kitchen and a short time later a very rewarding piece is created alhamduilah, TabbarakAllah!

This was made for a dear friend in mind who told me she is a tea cosy type of person!

Next up is another 10 minuite fix , A USB holder soultion for the teen at school. I used the colours to match her uniform.


It holds 2 USB's and i used a popper fastener and embellished it with buttons and the ''made with care'' sew ons.

Brick Lane London

Looking at Bangladeshi culture In the UK part of Cultural Inclusion Project at schools. I escorted my daughters class on a trip to Bangla Town In the UK to get a feel of the culture and see foods relating to the Bangladeshi culture. Here are my pictures ;






This place does the best Bagels in town esp after a night out!