Friday 8 July 2016

The Eid Effect

Peace be unto you all - in other words As-salaamualaikum ✌ 

A belated Eid Mubarak for all those that I didn't get to wish and thank you if you did wish me 😘
I'm sure everyone got to indulge and if you don't celebrate hopefully you had a good Muslim neighbour or friend that shared some goodies with you ➡ good company pays off😝


This year I fell into the category of "waiting for my phone to explode with messages" then put mendi/ henna before going to bed.πŸ˜‚ Eid was different this year, rather than it just being us at home it was a full house of family and it wasn't "Eid at the grannies".

⏰ My alarm on the morning of Eid was the sound of pots and pans klanking in the kitchen and mum's annoyed voice saying "Sa'ud wake up! Waaake up! You're going to miss Fajr" πŸ™ˆan atrocity not to be committed - losing the glow of the face on Eid, no thank you!! (It's because the morning prayer gives you "noor" (glow) on your face.) Morning prayer done - glow confirmed πŸ™Œ then it was time to get cracking- shower clean up, help in the kitchen and ofcourse pack the plates of biscuits for the friends!

πŸ‘— Then it was time for the highlight and a sunnah on Eid: dressing up πŸ™Œ
I wore a Turkish style kaftan (that I'd been after for ages) from a store Saudi-Arabia - thanks to mum's recent Umrah trip, black Ajmaan inner (I absolutely love the fit of this inner), black pleather leggings from Winged Girl (CPT), my new favourite black Topshop stilettos, with finishing touches of a Hermes belt and a patent leather black bag from Jealousy (DBN) and a square scarf from ages ago!
 I usually wear my contact lenses on a dress-up day but I decided to play it cool and Wear my glasses πŸ‘“ I guess they are new and needed an introduction to the family πŸ˜‚. 
Then there was the make-up I got to contour my sister's face, did mine and finished off with my second favourite lipstick which is from Avon! 

After dollin' up it was then time to head off to the new hotspot - my uncle's house, where everyone would be meeting for lunch. There's always one item missing and this year it was fire wood so off I went with the_eclectic_hijabi, cousin in-law and nephew to find some firewood. So there I was prancing around in circles to entertain the little-one in the shop with my amazing heels - so amazing that they deserved their own picture πŸ˜‚

🍲 Back to the food The menu included soji πŸ‘Œ ofcourse the grand "mutton breyani" drool because it was delish! Coming from me - a person who isn't a fan of such heavy foods you can believe it was divineπŸ™Œ. 
There were other side dishes but the main attraction was my favourite - Pavlova 😍 since I was told my cousin from Cape Town would be down for Eid and making that for desert it was the only thing on my mind πŸ˜‚ Only thing is EVERYONE wanted to try and having a big family wasn't cool for this moment because I couldn't indulge as much as I wanted to. I got restricted to only 1 piece if heaven πŸ’”. 

Nevertheless lunch was a treat with the mini uncles and nephews and niece running around. Whilst we "in-betweeners" mingled with the adults laughing as we shared stories. I love the idea of large family gatherings you never feel alone. There's always that warm fuzzy feeling of belongingπŸ’— if you haven't experienced it tell me and you can definitely come join me at our next big "thing" πŸ˜€.

On coming home, it was yummy food again soups, steaks and veggies! With visitors πŸ˜… a change to the normal sense of serenity I usually experience at home, but a good supper time nevertheless!

Ofcourse to end my day there was a photo-shoot of selfies and "mum please take a picture of me" πŸ˜‚
So my lovelies that was my eid! I hope you had an amazing day as I did. No need to feel underachieved on Eid 😊 

Please feel free to share your Eid tales with me or to take me up on the offer if joining me!

That's it for now 😘 
xxx 
The UBG 
Saudaa 




Monday 4 July 2016

The Eid Bake-off: Chocolate Melting Tutorial🍫



As Eid approaches it's usual for many households, including mine to smell like a bakery. This year is no different! 

This weekend was spent creating yummy home-made biscuits in my 3rd favourite place in the house πŸ˜…. I'm not a huge fan of cooking but baking serves as my creative outlet in the kitchen. So Baked en Alles (Hayah confectionery) was born! It's something that kinda happened by default as people saw my baking then ordered from me πŸ˜… word of mouth is an amazing tool!

Although I've been bogged down with issues mum's stepped up and come to help like a "knight in an apron" πŸ˜‚! She may help bake but the decor is my department it's like I have a no entry sign when I'm working - it's my space you know...

I thought I'd help some of you guys out with an easy peasy 3 step way to melt chocolate to decorate your biscuits.

All you're going to need is:
  • Chocolate chips
  • Pot 
  • Glass bowl (please make sure it's oven friendly)
  • Spoon 
  • Water
  • A stove
Please remember when selecting your bowl please make sure that the base of the bowl fits into the top of your pot BUT should NOT touch the base of your pot. 

Step 1:
Fill the pot about halfway with water and put it on the stove to heat (you can boil it first and then put it into the pot - it makes the process faster).


Step 2:
Place your chocolate chips into the bowl and place it over the heated water in the pot. (your bowl may be submerged in some of the water)



Step 3:
Using your spoon stir the chocolate in the bowl as it begins to melt it helps with the heat distribution through the chocolate (remember stirring ANTI-clockwise is sunnah).
Also make sure your water isn't boiling rapidly - you might end up over heating your chocolate, so lower the heat or turn it off. The water is still hot so your chocolate will have a heat source.

You will know your chocolate is ready when it's has a runny consistency.
and you should be able to touch it if it's too hot for you it's too hot to be used!


And there you have it good ol' melted chocolate. Which I live on for decorating πŸ™Œ. 

I got my chocolate from Laeeque this year the joys of being located centrally πŸ˜…. It's a one stop shop for all my baking goodies.

Side note πŸ“:
I didn't get to go for my mass iftaar but it's okay I didn't infect anyone so all is well... And my littletjie is around so I'm a happy chappy!

Oh and Eid Mubarak 🌟 in advance my lovelies (yes, that INCLUDES you male species!) I don't think I shall post until the auspicious day.

That's it for now
xxx
The UBG
Saudaa

Comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome 😘