My Garden

In pictures!

Chilli Plant



Sweet Corn and Beets

Lemon mint




Matches the wellies!
Flowers i got as gifts this Eid

Cup Cake Therapy

I finally got to sample the cakes at this really cute Retro Cafe If your are in town i suggest a visit. After a difficult and frustrating morning this is just what i needed to get me on track again , with a dear friend of course!
See for yourself


Not a coffee drinker but a LATTE was need that day!



The most moistest crumbliest lemon cake i have ever had.

Hexagon attempt

Now these look really pretty in plae shades of pinks and purples, they remind me of a sheet, the soft yet sturdy look. I saw these here and knew i would never be able to master these well i did try here but it was not quite right so recently i had another attempt hence my latest WIP

here is my first one, i would love your opinion hooking ladies?


I am hoping to make a cushion for my Dd soon to be 8yrs old. As they all got one sofar and she wants.

I Rippled it..............

Who remembers this , although i did say to myself i would not craft durring Ramandan and focous all my energies on spritually and attaining a higher level in it. I couldn't resist, I don't know wheither it was the fasting and lack of brain cells functioning without food and hot cups of tea , that i just couldn't get this right...........i nearly gave up but after at least 4-5 attempts i persevered now obsessed! I cracked it and how easy it is subhanAllah. Thank you to Attic 24 for her colourful and inspirational blog.
To me the ripples were like waves upon the Mediterranean sea..I felt mesmerized sailing in and out with my hook each colour showing the mood of the sky reflecting upon the sea.
The cushion is for my DS for his newly decorated room for his PC chair (not the chair in the post coincidently it will be a PC chair in royal blue God willing!)...........he loves it!

Eid Ul Fitr

The end of fasting was marked with a new crescent moon indicating 29 days of fasted now to be ended. First day of Eid, i roused all the kids for early Eid prayers at the mosque. My dh had to work as his hours have been cut from a 5 day week to 2 days only now and its weekends all the way. He likes it better this way as permanent nights begin to take there toll on ones health after many many years! I had rush baked some cakes the night before once i got conformation Eid was this day, so i had laid the table for Eid breakfast, I had one date observing the sunnah and headed to the mosque. There prayers were heart warming as always and feeling the Eid spirit in unity first thing sets the mood for the day ahead. I bumped into a friend in the mosque all alone attending for prayers. So i invited her back for Eid breakfast,we got back home about 8.15am and she stayed until 9.45am we drank cups of coffee (well she did, i am a tea drinker!) and munched on the cakes.
Once she left i got started on the Eid meal, I offered the children a choice cous cous or Asian food? They voted buriyani all the way.
I was thinking it to be a quiet day as we had a party planned for the 2nd day of Eid. My neighbours had other ideas we ended up together having fun until early evening. There was make up, dressing up, hair striating , hair curling, henna all looking very glam. Then someone came up with the bright idea of playing TWister in Saree's


Black Henna Art
Iam sorry i didn't get many photos over the days.

Second day of Eid i had planned a party, i have always wanted to do an outdoor event for the kids with a bouncy castle. As my children grow older and these types of parties will seem childish for them so i went ahead . Also to spread happiness to the other children of my community in making this day special.





The plan was simple ......we use the front court yard, using Garden furniture, a BBQ of burgers and chips for the children( as after 29 days of healthy food and detox , the children as well as adults were ready for some junk food!). I asked all the others attending to bring a dish .so some came with deserts and others with main dishes ..........i asked 2-3 families to organise a party game and prizes , to bring it along all ready. I got henna artist and face painters in. So it was like a mini fete but all for free.

It was a fab day and great feedback by all alhamduilah i was able to do this and alhamduilah the sun shone for us!

Nan Breads

I saw this one Muslim mama's blog and followed her link to Fauzia's and here are mine!



This i my first attempt and i have made them a few times now with wholemeal flour, they are just yummy and go down a treat with the family!

The Travellers Return

Alhamduilah my family are all back with me now , they returned on Saturday afternoon after 3days of gruelling travel via car all the way from Algeria to London. The scenes were emotional for all, they missed me and i them. My single life of 5 weeks came to a reality end almost immediately. The surprises i had gotten ready for each and everyone were much loved and appercahited! I could tell they are ecstatic to be home again. My some who has contracted Salmonella posioning in the last few weeks of their hols was a little worse for wear but has since build up his system with lots of TLC , mothers love and cooking! All back to school/work and life goes on as we entered the last 10 days of Ramadan subhanAllah i cant believe it has just passed so fast!

The moon at before the dawn

Sweet syrups to dilute from Algeria , mint and pommigrate flavours but i believe they have extract!
and not forgetting Algerian cakes sent by the in laws which are often art in themselves.





Just wanted to share some interesting cheeses i have been enjoying
Whiynsdale I am sure that's spelt wrong , a type of mild Cheddar with cranberries and my DH came home with the same cheese but with ginger and mango (i told him this must have been made with the desi pallet in mind!).


Both are very nice.

Homemade breads Foccacia and wheat Barley

Roasted Baby Lamb

My DH came home with this rare treat of Baby Lamb all ready for roasting , I would have liked it stuffed with flavour myself but i just did something simple to it. Added some sea salt , grinded ginger and chilli salt over it , sprinkled with rosemary and covered with sliced lemons of it went to be baked.


here is what we got tender succulent piece of meat!

Ripple help

I have ran into a spot of bother with my latest WIP remember this post?
Its the ends they are working into a decrease instead of straight! Any ideas anyone and help?
I feel disheartened to try again as it was tricky to start with :(

Rambling

The schools re-opened for my children this week , today i am offically alone at home and the holidays are over! Too soon if you ask me. My DH and 2 children are still in Algeria and are due back on Saturday as they will take their ferry tommorow to cross over to Marselle, France. I can't wait to see them i have missed them but have also enjoyed the rest and break from the routine. I have had time to bond with the youngest as its just been me and her for the past five weeks.


My son has been ill while away he was in hospital , severe food posioning , its been hard on my DH but the consulation for me is alhamduilah he has the support of all his family there mashaAllah.

I have been making treat parcels for my kids just some of their favourite sweets and drinks for when they get back as i know they would have missed them. also my son has lost a lot of weight due to the illness.
I have been watching this squirrel running to and throw on my garden wall as i type.


Its my first alone day since months and I have been catching up with the ironing that has sat there for almost 2 months.I am clearing the mountain done 1 hour already with the new steam generator iron. This device is great i feel like its cut my ironing time in half. I should have got one sooner. Now i need a new ironing board to hold the load as my old one is not strong enough to hold the new heavy device.

I have been feeling ill since last night , a bit fluey , with a on and off temperature. Its the weather change here in the UK well London anyhow its gone form glorious sunshine to nippy and windy. I am still upholding my fast, just feeling a little lonely to be honest.

I have also managed to sucessfully ruin my latest crochet project, not happy about that! Now I am not bothered to start again! Not at the mo and it was looking so nice to.

Anyhow back to my pottering about inshaAllah!

Remember the Marrow?

Well here is what my friend done with it , she cooked me Iftar (fast ending meal)
She made a curry of prawns, coconut milk, red pepper and the marrow.
She baked potatoes and we ate it as a jacket potoato topped with the marrow and prawn curry. It was lovely! Thank you dear friend Amatuillah!



The pleasure was all mine having someone cook for me as i don't enjoy my own cooked food so someones elses is delicious!

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is an English dish, traditionally made with lamb or mutton.
I used beef........ Shepherd's Pie is essentially a casserole, lined with cooked meat and vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes, and baked.

To be honest i was a little tried last night and entered the kitchen late to start cooking so it was a little rushed and of couse even though i tried to cook for two ended up with too much.





INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 lbs ground round beef
1 onion chopped
1-2 cups vegetables - chopped carrots, corn, peas
1 1/2 - 2 lbs potatoes (3 big ones)
8 tablespoons butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup beef broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt, pepper, other seasonings of choice
METHOD
1 Peel and quarter potatoes, boil in salted water until tender (about 20 minutes).
2 While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 Tablespoons butter (1/2 a stick) in large frying pan.
3 Sauté onions in butter until tender over medium heat (10 mins). If you are adding vegetables, add them according to cooking time. Put any carrots in with the onions. Add corn or peas either at the end of the cooking of the onions, or after the meat has initially cooked.
4 Add ground beef and sauté until no longer pink. Add salt and pepper. Add worcesterchire sauce. Add half a cup of beef broth and cook, uncovered, over low heat for 10 minutes, adding more beef broth as necessary to keep moist.
5 Mash potatoes in bowl with remainder of butter, season to taste.
6 Place beef and onions in baking dish. Distribute mashed potatoes on top. Rough up with a fork so that there are peaks that will brown nicely. You can use the fork to make some designs in the potatoes as well.
7 Cook in 400 degree oven until bubbling and brown (about 30 minutes). Broil for last few minutes if necessary to brown.
Serves four.


As i had too much i made extra in the Ramekin dishes

As Ramandan progresses

Fast eleven already ! Subhan Allah we waited so long and now its all moving along , i must say that Allah has made it easy and all the fears that Satan had put into my mind before about it being hard with such a long day until sunset have all been proved wrong alhamduilah.
A picture i took of the moon outside my window last night

its not quite a full moon full.
I have been attending Tarwiyyah prayers just a quick link i googled for those who don't know what they are. Now this is the first time i have been able to attend in my whole Muslim life. So its been a really blessing for me. I have visited two mosques East London and a local one. The experience has been uplifting and warming spiritually and i hope to attend more in years to come as its has really made Ramadan come more alive for doing so not to mention the rewards boost!
On saturday i meet up with Ameena we prayed at the mosque and headed back to mine we ended up staying up all night well until dawn , just chatting , laughing and advicing not to mention munching on snacks. in the morning we assisted Ameena with some shopping for her bridal outfit. It was good fun and i am so glad i got the oppurtunity to help Ameena this way! I must add she is a top lass!