Yemeni chai

I first discovered the Yemeni cuisine when I was visiting the USA. Yes, the USA of all places! I was in New York and researching good halal restaurants to grab a bite and I came across Yemen Cafe in Brooklyn. Online reviews of this Yemeni restaurant were promising and it definitely lived up to my expectations! The food was absolutely yummy, but what I loved about this place the most was it`s tea... Yemeni chai is by far the best tea I have ever tasted. Forget Moroccan mint tea (No offense, I do like Moroccan food!), this is something far better. 

The best part? Yemen Cafe actually offers their tea for FREE. So you can grab as many cups as you like! 

When I got back from the States I decided I HAD to find out how to make this tea. I`ve made it several times before and tried different recipes (Queen of Sheeba, Ya Salam Cooking), but yesterday I did it... I made the perfect cup of Yemeni tea! (Okay, I am not Yemeni, but I still think I made a very good cup any Yemeni would love to drink. ;-) )

I based my recipe for the most part on the ones in the links I provided above, but I added a few changes. 

So here`s how to make the (nearly) perfect cup of Yemeni chai: 

Ingredients for 1 big cup or 2 smaller cups: 

* 1 and 1/2 cup of water

* 1/2 of evaporated milk (Don`t use regular milk if you want the perfect cup, use evaporated one!)

* 2 teaspoons of black tea

* 3 cloves

* 6 cardamom pods 

* 1 tsp of ground ginger

* 1/2 tsp of cinnamon 

* Sugar or sweetener to taste (I used 4 tsp of stevia)

- Pour the water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. 

- Add the tea, cloves, cardamom pods, ginger and cinnamon together in a tea egg. 

- When the water is boiling add the tea egg. 

- Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. 

- Remove the tea egg, add sugar or sweetener and milk. 

- Pour in 1 big or 2 small cups and voila! 

5 ways to give your little kids` room an islamic touch!

When I was pregnant with Mr. Blueberry I was looking for ways to decorate his room and at the same time bring an islamic touch to it. I believe the foundations of faith are laid in early childhood and we, as parents, need to start educating our children about Allah and our deen from the very beginning. The most important thing you can teach your child early on is to love Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Let them get to know Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in a *fun* way. Make Islam a part of their daily life and one of the ways you can do this early on is by *visualizing* Islam in your house and in their room. Instead of decorating the walls in your little one`s nursery with Disney figures, choose for a pretty picture of a mosque. Or of the Ka`ba. 

Here are 5 ideas to give that islamic touch to your kids` room. Some are cheap and you can easily make them yourself while others can be custom designed to your taste. 

1. Islamic posters

Mr. Blueberry has 2 posters in his room: one with the five pillars of Islam and one with the saying *Allah created... Everything.* To make them even more playful I made some frames around the posters with washi tape. I ordered these posters online from this store.

2. Islamic frames

You can find cheap and colorful frames at Ikea, that`s where I got mine. I downloaded these cute islamic symbols from Style Islam. Both combined make this lovely wall art!

3. Child Protection Dua

Little Wings Gallery has amazing Islamic wall art and designs. You can have a frame custom made with the name of your little one and the dua for the protection of a child.

4. Arabic wall stickers 

I love the work from Simply Impressions. You could have your child`s name written in Arabic as a wall sticker.

5. Islamic wall stickers

Or you could choose one of their beautiful designs for children. This would brighten up any room, maa shaa Allah.

In shaa Allah, this post serves as an inspiration! Did you add some islamic deco to your little one`s room? What would you add to this list of ideas?

Crafts for babies and toddlers: Activity box

After my son was born there was one very special gift I received. (May Allah reward and bless the sister who gave it to us.) It was completely handmade and Mr. Blueberry and I have enjoyed this gift on many occasions. So much so, that when a friend of mine gave birth to her first child, I wanted to pay it forward and made a similar gift for her and her son. I think it`s the perfect gift for a new mother and her little bundle of joy... 

It`s a little box filled with cards. 50 to be precise. Each card has an activity written on it: something you can do with your baby to help develop his skills, help bond or just so you can have fun together. Because let`s be honest: after feeding, burping, diaper changing, ... your baby: what do you do with a baby? Well, there`s loads of fun to be had and this little box serves as a great inspiration! 

Would you like to make your own box or have a friend who is going to be a first time mom and you want to give her something original? Here`s how you make it! 

The paper box: 

* 2 square pieces of paper in a color you prefer

* A pen

* Stickers, glitter, ... anything you`ld like to use to decorate your box with 

The box looks sophisticated, but it is actually made in 5 minutes. Here`s a very good tutorial on how to fold this box. (Time to practice your origami skills!) 

Finish the box by writing on top *50 things to do with... (Enter baby`s name here.)* or anything similar. Decorate the box if you like! 

The cards: 

* 50 activities written on little cards. 

I compiled 50 ideas: some I made up myself, some I took from the gift I`ve gotten myself and some I took from this website. I made a Word document with all of these activities, printed them and cut them into little cards.

To give you some ideas, these are some of the activities I included: 

Create a baby obstacle course. Once your wee one is on the move, line up some kitchen chairs with a blanket over top and encourage your baby to crawl through (you could go first, or roll a ball or toy through). Put some pillows on the ground for your wee one to crawl over. Use a chair or an ottoman as an obstacle your wee one has to go around.

The story of his/her name. What does your baby`s name mean? Where does it come from? Who chose the name? Is there a Prophet or one of the sahaba who has the same name: tell your wee one about him/her!

Get touchy-feely. Keep a box of different-textured fabrics: silk, terrycloth, wool and linen. Gently rub the cloths on your baby`s cheek, feet and tummy, describing the way each feels.

If you don`t have the time to compile 50 new ideas, you can contact me and I can send you the Word-document with all of the activities. 

Have fun! :-)

Seasons of Life

Spring is in the air. At least in Europe it is. Right before I left Belgium daffodils in gardens and on street corners were starting to pop up and the freezing wind made way for a much softer breeze. Although in Qatar there is not much spring to be felt -we are just transitioning from *normal* summer to *hot summer*-, I am reminded of spring when I look at my son. Everything about him is *new* and *fresh*, like a little daffodil slowly emerging from the dirt. Innocently discovering this world that is still so new and fascinating to him.

For some time after he was born though I felt like I, on the other hand, was emerged in winter. I felt like everything about my life was frozen. Everything had slowed and stopped in time. *Is this my life from now on?* I would ask my scared reflection in the mirror. Days would consist of being stuck on the couch for hours on end with a nursing baby, diaper changes and failed attempts at trying to take a shower. Nights existed of more nursing, not enough sleep and wet PJ`s. Days and nights were so similar I would lose track of what actual day it was. It all became a blur. And I feared it would never end. It really felt like it would never end. 

But somehow it did. The snow melted. Gradually my life got defrosted and things starting moving again. There would be less nursing, more sleep, less diaper changes, although still the occasional wet PJ. Gradually there would be time again to do the stuff I did before my son was born: read a book, crochet.

The sun would no longer keep hiding behind the clouds and little daffodils started to emerge. But spring is unpredictable. Especially in Europe. There can still be hail, rain, even freezing temperatures are not uncommon. Some aspects of my life still remain *frozen*. 

Being a new (stay at home) mom in a foreign country means there is very little social contact. Especially after 2 of my dear friends left the country, there is hardly any adult interaction to be had. It is lonely.

And so I should *do* something, right? That`s what people during my visit a few weeks ago kept asking: *What are you going to do now?*, *Are you going to work now?*, *Are you having a second baby soon?* I understand where those questions are coming from. In the first months of being a mom I sometimes desperately wanted to climb into a time machine and get teleported to 2020. Or any later date. When my son will be going to school, won`t nurse anymore, sleep through the night, be able to communicate and tell me what is bothering him. When I would do all the things I can`t do now: get back to work, maybe study, continue traveling, have a social life again. I would desperately wait for summer to begin.

But a few weeks ago when I was watching those daffodils and I looked at my son and how he mastered a new skill, I realized this season will pass sooner than I actually wish it would. I realized just how fleeting this time of our lives is if we look at the big picture. This season will pass. All of this will pass. Nothing lasts forever, only Allah.

But just like that daffodil needs water, sunlight and even more so time, to grow, spring will grow into summer in its due time. 

I never really had a favorite season: winter, spring, summer, autumn. I loved aspects of every season: the blossoming trees in spring, the summer sun, the beautiful foliage in fall and the crisping snow beneath my shoes in winter. So I decided to love every season in this life too. This season is not an easy one, but I decided to marvel in its beauty instead. Being able to be so close to my son in this season of his life is truly a gift. I cherish every moment as I know now this season will end one day. I know now that summer will be here all too soon...

Eid ul Adha 2014: Little flags

I have a new hobby! Or it would be better to say: a new addiction! Crochet! :-)

Two years ago I bought my first crochet-hook, but it took me a while before I really got the hang of it. With our blueberry arriving soon, I decided it was time to finally sit down and learn it properly. And so I did. :-) I`m still very much a beginner, but I started working on several little projects and I must say: they turned out great! :-) So this year my Eid-decorations aren`t made from paper, but... From yarn! :-)

This project is really easy as it only consists of chains and single crochets. :-) Ideal for every beginner! :-)

What you need: 

* Yarn in whatever color you like. 

* A crochet-hook that is compatible with the type of yarn you want to use. (I used a 4.25 mm) 

* Scissors

Instructions: 

The flags: 

* You actually crochet little triangles and it`s up to you to decide on how big you want to make them. I used a very helpful video that explains step by step on how to crochet a triangle. It`s in Dutch however, but you can still use it as the instructions are shown clearly. :-) I didn`t find any proper videos in English yet, but I am sure Pinterest and YouTube will have something to offer. :-) This video doesn`t explain on how you can crochet the edge to give your flags the finishing touch, but here`s how I did it: when I reached the appropriate size I wanted my triangle to be, I attached a new color and crocheted all the way around the triangle by crocheting a single crochet into every little hole. In the bottom tip of the triangle I crocheted 3 single crochets in the 1 hole, while in the 2 top tips I made 2 as you need some more stitches to make it nicely around the corners. Once you`ve crocheted all around, you secure your thread and cut the remaining parts of it. 

The chain: 

* You chain 25. Attach your first little flag to the chain by making 1 single crochet into every stitch on the top row of your triangle. Chain another 10 and attach the next little flag in the same way. Continue until you`ve finished adding all your flags and chain another 25. Chain one, turn and make 1 single crochet in every stitch until you`ve reached the beginning of your garland again. Secure the thread and cut the remaining. 

For sure these little flags will brighten up every room. :-)

Eid ul Adha 2014: Eid Candles

Materials needed: 

* 3 glass jars (Recycled from mayonaise, tomato sauce, ... containers.) 

* Glue 

* Brush 

* Black tissue paper 
* Scissors 
* Golden glitter 
* Golden stickers with the letters of the alphabet 
* 3 small candles 
* Matches  

Instructions:  
* Cut the black tissue paper into small squares of approximately the same size. (2 cm2) 

* Use the brush to cover the outside of the glass jar completely in glue and stick the little pieces of tissue paper one by one to the jar. Cover the whole outside of the jar in tissue paper except for the top (On which you screw the lid).  

* Make sure the top of the jar is also covered in glue as you sprinkle the golden glitter over the remaining surface.  

* Leave the jar to dry. * Stick the letters E-I-D on the jars: on each jar one letter. * Light the candles and place one small candle in each jar. (Be careful!)  

This little craft really brightens up any table for Eid. :-) Super cozy!

  

*Bismillah* garland

Now Ramadan is over, the Eid-holidays have passed and I feel sad not only to have this blessed time having passed by so quickly, but also because I have to take down my decorations... 

As I love decorating my house and giving it that *cozy* touch, I figured I just had to make some new decorations that aren't specifically related to Ramadan, but that do have an islamic purpose to them, to brighten up my big white walls. :-) 

So here's a little something to *islamify* your kitchen or dining area: a *bismillah* garland. 

Material:

* *Bismillah* garland template

* Printer

* Colored paper 

* Scissors 

* Thread  or ribbon

* Utility knife

* Washi tape

Instructions: 

* I designed the banner myself and you can download it here, in shaa Allah. 

* Print the template (on any type of paper you like) and cut out all the stars with the scissors. 

* On opposite sides of each star: cut 2 little (Vertical if you want the garland to be hanged horizontally, horizontal if you want the garland to be hanged vertically like in my example) lines into the star with the utility knife.

* Hang the stars on a long piece of thread or ribbon by *weaving* the thread through the cut lines on each star. 

* Attach the garland to the wall by using some colorful washi tape. 

Making this craft child friendly: 

You can make this garland together with your kids in teaching them about the islamic rulings concerning eating and dining. When you're teaching them to drink/eat with their right hand and to always say *bismillah* (In the name of Allah) before they start eating, this craft is a great way to visualize what they learned. Print the template on white paper and let your kids color away and *design* their own garland. :-) Let them choose where to hang the garland and let the older ones attach it to the wall.

In shaa Allah, it will serve as a reminder to the whole family during every meal and will brighten up your meal times! :-)