Saturday, 19 July 2014

Happy Birthday to ME!

Assalamulekum lovelies!x
Guess who's birthday was it this Friday?
Thats right,  mine !
So it was my sweet sixteenth and I must say I had loadsa fun<3
 A thank you to everyone who wished me; in person, facebook, twitter and elsewhere and even google:

ha ha ha
Stay blessed:)  

Monday, 14 July 2014

Easy Ramadan Recipes + DIY Summer Picnic! (Do or DIY episode 1)



Hello guys! So its Ramadan! And its summer. And its hot.
So lets have a summer iftar picnic! YAAAAYYY!!!
(bonus: These recipes are so simple and easy that they wont require you to stand in the hot kitchen for long during your fast:) And this is the 1st episode of Do or DIY which  a new diy series I'm starting here I'm so excited!

LETS GET (this picnic) STARTED!!!
So the first recipe is......(drumroll...)
1. Mango & Date Salsa
Its the season of mangoes(and dates) so today I will show you how to make your very own salsa! so for this you'll need:
  • Mangoes (ofcourse)                                         2-3
  • Tomato  sliced or diced                                   1
  • Onion  diced                                                    1
  • Salt n peppa'                                                    as much as you like   
  • Dates                                                                5-6
  • Any fruit juice or syrup(i used pineapple)     5-6 tablespoons
  • Pineapple (optional)                                        just a few chunks
  • Lemon or lime                                                 a dash
  • Corn(optional)                                               5-6 tablespoons
  • Chopped coriander                                           2-3 tbsp
Okay so you gotta slice your mangoes and add i the tomato and the diced onion. Add salt n pepper according to taste. Since its Ramadan so we gotta have the dates cause dates are kinda essential in Ramadan. Add in a dash of lemon. I highly recommend adding any kinda fruit juice or syrup to it just like I used pineapple,e syrup, you can use mango juice as well. I garnished it with some chunks of pineapple and a heart shape of a tomato and a slice of the mango!


2. Bana-watermelon popsicles
This goodness will definitely BEAT THE HEAT after your fast and I mean it you guys!
so get your ingredients ready everyone
  • Watermelon(don't throw away its rind, i have a surprise for ya!)
  • Bananas or mangoes or grapes or peaches really the
    possibilities are endless!
  • Cups or glasses or a popsicle maker
  • Skewers or plastic spoons
 Get your watermelon into the blender and blend blend blend. Pour this into your glasses and hop em into the freezer. Next you wanna take the bananas or any other fruit and again blend blend blend. With fruits like the latter I recommend adding a leetle bit of water so that it blends well. When the blended watermelon is semi frozen you wanna stick in the sticks or spoons. The watermelon should have a hard, icy surface for you to pour the banana onto it. Now you shall(after a kinda long waiting game) enjoy your very own diy popsicle. Its so picnic-y!


3. JelloWatermelon
This is a really fun dessert and its perfect for the summer and its super easy. Remember the not-throwing away its rind? well here's where it comes in handy! So all you need to prepare this dessert is:
  • Watermelon rind (told you so)             1
  • Strawberry jello                        1 pack

 As easy as this sounds, its way more than that.
Boil water in a pot as per the directions of your jello. Empty the contents of the pack and get it ready in  a bowl. After the water is boil pour it in the jello to make your jello. You wanna, now immediately pour the jello into your watermelon rind. Pop it in the fridge to let it set! You can cut it into slices once its set:)Easy right? I know.

4. Dates el cream/ Dates a la cream
So Ramadan is not complete without the dates so here I show unique and elegant snack that is delicious and classy. All you need is
  • Dates
  • whipped cream
And you basically wanna get the cream into a ziploc bag and de-seed your dates. Pipe the cream into the dates and wah-laah!

5. Peach Melba
Peach Melba anyone! Blend away:
  • peaches
  • watermelons
  • some fresh mint you can use a mint extract if you cant find it fresh
  • a banana 
And you'll  have your own delight in a glass in no time!
 


6. Summer on a Stick
Okay so this is definitely one of my faves. So for this you'll need:
  • Lots of fruits and;
  • lollipop sticks or skewers
  • whipped cream(optional)
And you basically wanna alternate the chopped or sliced or diced fruits... wait I'll show you how:)

This is the most simple snack of the whole picnic after the dates and I loooooove it!<3 It basically SCREAMS summer which is why I named it Summer on a stick.
pop these in the freezer and top with cream!

And we are finished with our picnic you guys. I hope you guys enjoyed it 'cause I certainly did!

Do you love having a picnic? Which recipe was your favorite? Let me know in the comments
And hashtag #doordiy #diywitholiveoil if you recreate any of my recipes!
Until next post 
Chao!

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Ramadan Mubarak :)

                      

Hello everyone! This little post is just to wish you and your family a sweet Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan Mubarak to all the Muslims all through the world and may God ease your and our problems and I may not not them but He does and shower His blessings upon all of us as this beautiful month has come by with its endless blessings, forgiveness and mercy. May we benefit from it as much as we can and become good Muslims. Another thing I'd like to say is that its not just about food and feasting; I am not in any way saying that we shouldnt enjoy good suhoors and iftars but we should thank Him for it and its not about the food, is about the faith. Wishing you lovely times in Sahris, fasts that are accepted by our Lord, and joyful iftars. May this Ramadan be our best Ramadan (yet) Ameen.:)
 

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Summer Essentials: 5 Summer Superfoods


May peace be with you you guys!
So today's post is gonna be more of a health-lifestyle related one. Today, I'm gonna show you five simple healthy foods that will purify your body leaving you feeling happy and refreshed, in short all set for summer.
Let's get started!

1. Watermelon


Oh yeah. This green covered pink goodness is definitely one of my favorite foods. Watermelon is a fruit high in citrulline -an amino acid that helps our kidneys get rid of ammonia which is a toxic substance formed in our bodies. Watermelon is also considered one of the high lycopene foods. Lycopene is a phytonutient that is essential for cardiovascular health Scientists also believe that lycopene is vital for your bones. Other foods rich in lycopene include tomatoes, carrots, guavas, papayas. Bonus: By eating watermelon you consume more water cause of its high water content(-hence the name WATERmelon!)
My favorite way to eat watermelon is in diy drinks and even on their own.
I personally love love love watermelons cause they are so DELICIOUS!

2. Cool as a Cucumber


I'll be honest, I've recently been obsessed been this one these days. Cucumbers are an awesome source of vitamin A(its skin, so dont peel it off), B and C. Just like watermelons, cucumbers are high in water and thus are diuretic. Rich in antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties, this baby is sure to detoxify you this summer. It is so cooling and refreshing, I definitely recommend it to you guys. It is really good for diabetes and induces the production of insulin and even cuts the risk of cancer!
Cucumber aids digestion plus it lowers cholesterol. The alkalinity of the cucumber minerals help Bonus: Its great for you skin and cure under eye puffiness and dark circles.
I started loving them ever since I made Greenistic sandwiches for a tea party and I love laying them on my burgers and wraps. Let me know if you want the recipe I created for the one-of-a-kind sandwiches I just mentioned:)




3. When life gives you lemons, you………..


That’s right, lemons.
 Lemons are rich in vitamin C and regulate the pH levels of body fluids. Lemons boost immunity and are antibacterial and antiviral- awesome for a cold. It purifies your blood and body and works as a great detox. These are also wonderful for your skin, hair and teeth.I did an entire post on lemons a while back called Lemony Beauty so I highly recommend you guys to check it out for an added bonus. I love to add a dollop of lemon juice(actually more than a dollop:p) to my foods because I love the flavor it adds to it. And I think its awesome in this heat as it soothes, calms and cleanses your body.

4. Apples
from: Google
manzanas
 from: Google

Oh yeah this red goodness is sure to keep you healthy this summer. Rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and fibre this baby is sure to regulate blood sugar levels too and cut the risk of cardiac problems, diabetes and hypertension. It’s rich in vitamin C, and b complex vitamins- awesome for our red blood cells and nervous system, calcium, phosphorus and potassium-
K. (get it? ha ha ha no)
I like to eat em on their own and have them in my mamas apple pie. (umm, yumm). Add them in your salads for an extra burst of flavor and yum or maybe mix it with other fruits and delicious yogurt for a fruitastic dessert ^_^

5.A glass of WATER!
from: google
Okay so water basically flushes out toxins and cleanses and boosts metabolism. It is also said to relieve headaches, get rid of fatigue and it also empowers the brain and helps you concentrate and focus better. It also gives you energy!
Happy hearts! Keep your heart happy by drinking plenty of water because it needs energy and love too, now doesn't it?
Bonus!: It boosts your mood AND it actually is the first step to having beautiful skin cause it clears it and gets rid of dirt and bacteria. Kick that ugly, pesky anger out and away!
How?
Easy. sit down and drink a glass of water and Bu-bye crazy anger.
Another really important important thing is to sit while drinking water or any drink or eating. Firstly cause its sunnah and secondly cause when you stand and drink water it directly hits the lower part of the oesophagus, the  lower oesophageal sphincter. This allows food and water to enter the stomach. If this is practiced longer LES becomes weak and elastic.
I recommend always carrying a little bottle of water with you, wherever you go. You can even set up reminders or download apps that remind you to drink more water.

So I hope you guys enjoyed reading this post and hopefully got to learn a lot.
Stay healthy, stay beautiful<3
 Chao for now
EmanSSiddiqi aka OliveOil