Chaand Raat

Once a dusky evening, where sun set closer than horizan
pale yellow turning to blue to black
Red mosque, Azan to break our fast
white lace prayer caps, white kurtas
kneeling and thanking

so long ago,faded nostalgia
smell of crisp pakora's, colour of fruits in a bowl
frozen geometric ice cream in a green fridge
butter cardimum, ivory milk, lean and smooth

excited voices, climbing steps
rooftop through a metallic attic
focused eyes, only breathing sounds....
watching, looking and they i heard
chaand, Eid Mubarek
Eid Mubarek

and then dribbles down
motorcycles racing
couples rejoicing, colored bazares
sleepless happy nights

sweaty palms, smell of earthy hena
a duck pattern, they said
that turned into a fish ;)

mum ironing, nano sowing
mumani jaan in the kitchen
mamus dancing with nana jaan
atta coming through the door


a late trip to chaunee and defence
hungama and hide and seek
girly talks and nintendo attari
stealing candy, screaming exits

humble hugs of joy
prayers and warm gestures of love
together happy

today yet again another eid
same happiness
different reasons
MashAllah!

What is Eid to you....share with everyone!

http://pakistaniat.com/2006/10/23/social-meaning-eid-pakistan/

Lahore after fajr!

Clear cool sky
light breeze with sun lurking behind
running tracks
mango trees
big circles, walked twice
whistling sparrows
glistenign grass
bicycles buzzing
shops opening
tea simmering
In my mamoos case milkshake shaking
blue tracksuits
feel of a good start


tears drop down when i remember
the sounds of night turning to light
it will never be the same to be hugged like that,
to be loved unconditionally.
Once in a while i am back there in my dreams
the time of my young life
with the people who made everything whole.
the time where world was contained at the footsteps of  572-R and chaunee
no one can express how i feel
they havent seen in my heart
the love i have
the respect i bestow
the prayers i say
thank you for my world
I learned to love like you.

dedicated to my nano,
my nana jaan
my baba jaan.

Chicken chowmein -gluten free

Spaghetti, linguini, all those stringy pastas always satisfied the hunger especially after 3 hours of playing under the sun and running silly.
My mum is the best cook ever, I mean ever. Anything she makes is delicious. I can't believe that somebody gets to see my ama and atta everyday :)

I made my moms recipe chowmein but made mine with rice noodles. Delicious!!















Ingredient:
2 chicken breast cut in pieces
1 big green pepper Julian
7 baby carrots Julian
1 med red onion julian
2 serving of boiled rice noodles
2 tbsp Gluten free soya sauce or regular
1 tbdp Siracha hot sauce
1/2 tsp garlic
1 tsp crushed red pepper (rp)
2/3 tsp black pepper (bp)
1 tsp salt ( taste and more)
2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup warm water

Procedure:
sAutee chicken in olive oil for a minute on med high heat. Add garlic, rp, bp and salt cook for 2 mins. Add water and let it simmer covered for 6 mins o. Low heat so the chicken and spices mix. Add soya sauce and hot sauce and cook for 30 sec on medium heat. Add all the vegetables, sautée for five minutes and then add noodles. The noodles will soak up extra sauce from chicken vegetables. Mix it well on medium high heat and serve with lime or Siracha!!!

- by MKH

Nabeel's delicious Gringo Burgers

I love being Nabeel's Sous Chef. He loves to cook Especially for me and as you all know by now I love to eat. He tries out new recipes and I love to watch him cook. It's very entertaining and helpful. Since I started eating gluten




free, I haven't had a good burger in years. I found gluten free buns and Nabeel grilled these delicious burgers. Its a South American recipe.


Ingredients:
Ground beef 500g (regular)
Green onions 3 roots
Red onion 1 medium
Garlic 1 tsp
Pepper medley 1 tbsp
Paprika 1tsp
Cajun spice 1tspn
Salt 1 tspn ( hasbe zaiqa, according to your taste.
Cilantro 1/2 cup

Prep:
Chop green, red onions, cilantro and garlic and add that to the beef. Add spices and soya sauce and mix it all up. Make medium size patties and grill them medium high for 10 mins on each side.




























































This lunch reminded me of mama's burgers in Sharjah Alain, English night at Peshawar mess, shami kabob sandwiches in Mianwali, barbecue at Richmond park with lays chips.
I hope when you make these, it also remind you of a family time back in the day or create a new memory of a warm relaxing day with Gringo Burgers.




- by MKH

Kadu-Daal

The most delicious veggie dish I make. Recipe coming up.


- by MKH

Turkish-Syrian Border

My atta was getting sick when we started off for turkey. Being a growing kid I know that I felt worried for him. On the other hand he had as much fun as he could. I love his spirit and love my mom for taking care of him.

Nobody knows this about me but I love to travel at night, in cars, buses, planes and trains. Reason being that nobody can see me looking outside in the sky or moving land and talking to myself. I started doing that when I was little. We have had a lot of trips and my precious memories to my self. I was a child with Fairytale/motivational fantasies and that time was my time to think about them.
Looking at the stars
Looking at the moon
Finding the milky way every time until the dark of pollution started to cover them.
That trip was full of night time travel and I loved every bit of it. It's a great feeling to be safe with your parents and feel completely independent. We reached the Turkish border at Fajr time. Atta woke up and asked me if I wanted to come and see the visa entry process. The moment I got out of the bus, the cool fresh air hit me. A little hint of Kalaam and a lot of Switzerland(yes I haven't been there but you just know, that certain place will smell this way.) when we came out, there was less dark in the sky. Atta and I came on the bus. Atta went to sleep but I couldn't. I was very excited. I saw the sky getting lighter and lighter and the grassy hills getting wider and wider. There were little huts with sheep grazing on the side (European sheep, big and fluffy). Some people laying on grass. Some huts had chimneys and smoke was swaying in the morning sun.









Dreams were colorless before this sight,
I wish I see it twice, and walk on those untamed lands
Beauty of simplistic life touched me through the window glass.
The dwindling road, the clear skies.
A beautiful morning to walk for miles
I ll see it again and surrender myself in time
This time To use all senses, to be in heavens on earth.




- by MKH

Rain-Winnipeg Summer

Warm breeze turns to cool breathing from the north,
Sun is covered with Hijab of grey blue
The green embroidery on the edge,
Dancing bangles and jingles
Drip.
Drop drip
Then the thunder, the lightening, pure power beyond ours...
I love this rain in day and at night....
I love the dark at noon



- by MKH

Beautiful Pictures-Atta Mama and Mamu

Sunshine

I miss my winters in pakistan.
I miss sleeping outside in the bright sun with a little blanket on green cold grass after Duhr Prayer.
I loved winter sun and loved eating Mandarins with my mom and My nano!
I woke up today thinking i wanted get a lot of sun. I will go to Elizabeth Dafoe Library to get a little bit in my spare.
But I got it right in the morning for two hours sitting in my class. I love it!

Fairytales

Blush sunsets, lush green jungles
A castle far away standing tall and grey
Sparkles in fairy dust, and the teetring of the tiny sparrow
Reminds me of Disney and the beautiful stories In my books
I like the light flurry dresses and glitter jewels
The dramatic heels and dinner after sun down.
The storm in a tiny pond, and the calmness in a waterfall.
The lost soul in a desert or a Tragic kingdoms fall
The aero through the poisoned nature
The brightness of a dying candle
Kindness of heart is mine
The smile of you is true
Amusing possibilities with a little bit of magic.
Lets dance under the moon :)



- by MKH

Chicken crunch-gluten free

- by MKH

Murree

Bus rides on a dwindling road
Rain falling like tears on a clear canvas
Dark night with shadows of trees
And the shadow of me
A different side of happy and joy
Where I only knew you
My memories of night in murree
With my imagination of you
Together made my dream in my dream
To come true
-m



- by MKH

Black Chickpeas

Kaalay Chanay the vegetarian paye!

Ingredients

1 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 1/2 salt
1/2 garam masala
1/2 cumin powder or un powdered
1/3 tsp black pepper
1 medium onion
1 medium tomato
1 tbsp chopped garlic/Ginger
1 1/2 cup kaalay Chanay.
3 tbsp olive oil
Non stick pot.



Soak 1 1/2 cups of black cp overnight.

In the morning boil them with just salt ( 1 tbsp)

It will take 8 mins in the pressure cooker to boil them perfect.

In another pot fry in olive oil a medium chopped red onion.


Once golden brown add 1tbsp of Ginger garlic paste and let brown with the onions.





Once golden brown, add chopped tomatoes, fry for a minute and then add the dry spices.











Roast the dry spices only for 10 sec and then add a cup of the water in which you boiled cp.

Let it simmer for a minute, and then put the stove on low heat cover the base masala and let it cook for 5 mins.




Now add the cp ( I left a bowl of cps behind for my salad, the rest goes in) in the masala and more cpwater. It depends on you how much soup you want. Add a green chile to give it a green flavor that some of us Pakistani like.









Now cover the pot with a lid and let it all emulsify on a medium head for 10 to 15 mins.

Garnish with cilantro and serve with white basmati rice.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Winnipeg

Turkey-Beginning of the Journey

It was 9:00 o clock and we reached the flying coach station in Dimishq(damascus). This trip was one of the firsts of my childhood wishes coming true.
When I was 4, every night I will pray that I get a baby brother.

"ya Allah, mujhe pyara se gora chit bhai de amen"
Once he was born on august 2nd 89 Mashallah, I asked my nano what do I ask from God now?
She said to pray that you get to see turkey and I did.

Back in 97 going towards the bus station I though of my nano, my turkey images and funnily what kind of food I would get to try.

We sat in front. And started our journey at 10 pm. Syria is beautiful city and night the true dark, charismatic and mysterious character shines of the desert sand.

I have travelled by road a lot. And my favorite travels have Been at night because I can look outside. I loved watching the moon and the stars and loved thinking and knowing no one knows of what I am thinking. The assistant to the driver kept putting on the new tartan song "simrik" and he also kept repeating Indian movie dialogue. Bilal has fond memories :)

To be continued....

Everything that glitters can be diamonds.

Soft sand and gushing water,
The shore wide and vast.
I step on beads of lights,
Shadows lurking behind.
I see the beautiful stones hidden
In the earth, waves spreading
I need to find them all
I know they are my diamonds
Scattered, I may loose them
I see them in my dreams
One at a time I pick
Polish and wish
That you take me where i dream,
To be.