Ahlan Ramadan ~ Event Announcement with Giveaway

~ Huma ~ 4 Comments
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Assalamu alaikum dear friends…
The blessed month of Ramadan is almost here. The month when the Quran was revealed to the Muslims as guidance… that is how important the month is. While we spend majority of our time in Ibaadah in the form of our Salaah, recitation of the Qura’an, pondering over the verses, giving Sadaqah, at the same time we give a lot of importance to our food served during the Iftar (fast breaking) and Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) to ensure that enough energy is provided to carry on during the long hours of fasting.

As days pass by, the shift is towards healthy eating during the meal times, considering the hazards caused by deep fried and unhealthy foods after the fasting hours. We, Hasna, Humi and Rafeeda are proud to host a 6 week-long event on our respective blogs, looking at options for healthier cooking and feasting. Do you have a recipe that you treasure and think is a healthy option to serve for the Ramadan meals? Then this is the place for you. The event, which we have named as “Ahlan Ramadan – The Healthy Way” starts from June 25 and will continue till August 6. 

Let us look into the event rules:
The base theme is “healthy” – usage of whole grains, lentils, lean meat, baking instead of frying, etc. can be considered.
Vegetarian and non-vegetarian entries can be linked.
There is no set category – drinks, snacks, meals, bakes, etc. are all welcome.
Everybody is welcome to participate! We are here to celebrate the spirit of Ramadan! J
Please publish the logo as well as link it to this event announcement page. To make it easy, just copy and paste this statement to your blog post: “Sending this entry to Ahlan Ramadan – The Healthy Way” (update the Ahlan Ramadan the Healthy Way with your blogpost link)
All participants must compulsorily like our FB pages – Kachuss Delights, Gheza-e-Shirin and The Big Sweet Tooth.
There is no limit to the number of entries per participant. Bloggers can use the linky tool below.
Non-bloggers are also welcome to participate! Please provide us the recipe and the picture at the following email address: ahlanramadan2014@gmail.com
Now let’s break the surprise! Yes, we have planned three types of giveaway for this event!
For our international giveaway, including UAE residents:
The best entry gets the beautiful baking book, “Surprise-Inside Cakes” by Amanda Retke

The second best entry gets a USD 15/- gift card from Amazon.com.
There’s more for our readers in the UAE! You stand an additional chance to win a beautiful shalwar set from NavVarn.
After linking in or emailing us your entries, please use the Rafflecopter below to like all our pages and to stand a chance to win the giveaways!
 So what are you waiting for? Awaiting all your delicious, “healthy” entries…

All participants must compulsorily like our FB pages – Kachuss Delights, Gheza-e-Shirin and The Big Sweet Tooth.
There is a limit of 2 entries per participant, which is to be linked using the linky tool below.
Non-bloggers are also welcome to participate! Please provide us the recipe and the picture at the following email address: ahlanramadan2014@gmail.com
Now let’s break the surprise! Yes, we have planned a giveaway for this event! The best three entries will be screened amongst the entries that we receive… Do stay tuned to know more about the giveaway…
 So what are you waiting for? Awaiting all your delicious, “healthy” entries…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lemon & Rose Clouds

~ Huma ~ 9 Comments
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After weeks of postponing my trip, at last today I am leaving for India for about  two weeks. Am excited to meet my parents after a long gap of two years. I have not informed them of my visit to see the surprise , happiness in their eyes.  Want  this picture to be captured in my memories forever.   As time comes nearer  I am nervous &  jittery. Though technology has made life easier and I speak with them from time to time, but miss their gentle touch , hugs and warmth. I hope to make the maximum from my visit as I don’t know when I will meet them again..

As promised, I am with the recipe from my leftover  trimmings of lemon bars.  Served in individual glasses  they are perfect summery dessert.

The  first spoon hits you with the coolness of rose and then comes the tanginess of lemons followed by the crunchiness of pistachios. 
 
 
And here comes the recipe for Light  & Airy
 
 
Lemon & Rose Clouds.
 

Serves: 2

Lemon Bar trimming crumbled
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 tsp of rose essence
4 tbsp of sugar
1 rose hip crushed

For Garnish
1/2 tbsp pistachio powder
crumbled lemon bar trimming
1 rose hip petal separated

You will need two transparent serving glasses
Method

  1. For the cream: Mix together whipping cream, sugar & rose essence to soft peaks.Fold in crushed rose hip
  2. Now in the glass, layer the lemon bar trimming. Pour over the prepared cream
  3. Garnish with crumbled lemon bar, pistachio powder & rose hip petal
  4. Served cold.

Rymah Rice – Review

~ Huma ~ 7 Comments
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I am very fussy about the type of rice I use in my cooking. And believe that the real test of rice comes when it is cooked in pressure cooker with the outcome of fluffy, less starchy rice. 
 Living in UAE, we have many options of rice available.And now and then there are many brands introduced in this market. Rymah rice is one on them. 

 Team Rymah were kind enough to send me the sample for testing. From the sample provided , I cooked Rymah Rice three ways: Pressure Cooker , Open Pan  and Dum. And the results were amazing.The Texture of this rice is  great and the biggest thing is  the grains of  rice doesn’t stick with each other due to the aging process used.
It has a  slightly nutty aroma  and  grains become long when cooked. Ryma Rice comes in an attractive packaging in 2,5,10 & 20 kg packs. I prepared 3 dishes from the sample provided giving me excellent results: Chicken Tahri, Sindhi Biryani & Plain Rice.
For more information on Rymah Rice , please visit their website: http://rymahrice.com/

Baking Partner May Challenge – Lemon Bars

~ Huma ~ 13 Comments
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Thanks Suja for giving us the wonderful challenge for this month. This summery , lemony tangy bars  did for sure uplifted the moody phase I am going through. 
 

I have been off and on in blogging since few months. It’s not that, I am not making any food but by the end of the day I am so exhausted and don’t feel like doing anything. Feeling kind of lost. Maybe we all go through such phase of life now and then. I need to gear up myself & put my life back on the track.Maybe , I will take a tiny mini vacation to India. Missing my parents a lot nowadays too. Till  I make my decision lets enjoy the bars , I made today for our monthly challenge of Baking Partners.

For the Crust
85 gm flour
1/3 cup sugar
70 gm unsalted chilled butter (cubed)

salt a pinch

For the filling
48 gm Sugar
1/2 tbsp Lemon zest
2 Egg
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup Condensed milk
1 1/2 tbsp flour
3 pinches of Salt
2 drops Yellow food color
 
Powdered sugar for dusting
 
To make the crust
 
  1. Pre heat oven @ 220 degrees. & line the loaf tin with aluminium foil.
  2. In a food processor mix flour, sugar,salt & butter. Pulse till crumbly.
  3. Remove & press into the lined tin. Prick with the fork one iches apart
  4. Bake the crust for 15 minutes or till edges become light brown.
  5. Cool completely

To make the filling

  1. In the food processor mix in all the filling ingredients.
  2. Pour over the baked crust
  3. Bake @220 degrees till set and firm to touch
  4. Cool at room temperature & chill for atleast an hour in the fridge.
  5. Cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar.
  6. Enjoy.
Any leftover trimming from the lemon bars. Well next in line is the recipe for it. A little glimpse