The Little Things That Matter...

There are so many things happening around us... around me.... that has kept me fidgety these days.

I pray for all humanity around us - every life is precious. Be it a life from Syria, Palestine, Lebanon or Paris.

Amidst all these hatred going around the world. And some hurt that we may experience in our lives, I so believe it is important to find gratitude within our own lives. Among things that Allah (S.W.T) has given us. Everybody has a different battle, and everybody's battle has its own challenges.

Among the things that I love doing to take a breather from the hectic routine from life, I look towards two things - reading and cooking or/and baking for the family. These days, I have 'looted' these books from the library as usual.  A good friend also recommended an online store that delivers books purchased right to our doorsteps. Sounds like a great monthly investment to make, In-Shaa-allah. You can check out their website here at this link. If you find this useful, do make duas for the sister who shared this with me, and keep me in your duas too, In-Shaa-Allah.

One of the earlier books that I completed. Struggles of a British Muslim who has roots in Pakistan. Was worth the read.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book titled "Gotong Royong", written by a local author. It brought on vivid images of the fondly-remembered kampong days that Mum and Dad so often reminisce about. Their togetherness, the warmth among people of all races, their waking up at very early hours to queue for the common shower areas, their outings with neighbourly aunties to gather herbs from very thick vegetation (amidst battling fear of snakes). Although the author didn't mention these experiences, her own narration of her childhood within the decade she wrote about made me recount my own parents' memories.

I had also picked up two books in Tamil - on our beloved Mothers in Islam, Kadhijah (Radhiallahu Anha) and Fatimah (Radiallahu Anha). These are steps to making conscious efforts to keep reading in my Mother Tongue, In-Shaa-Allah.

Along these days, I also have tried a few dishes, some for the first time. The above is the result of one of those bakes that came upon on my impulse baking moods. It felt like a bake day, but there wasn't any butter at home, so had to google a few sites and combined a few recipes to get this - based on the availability of ingredients in my baking basket and refrigerator at home.

Rich and moist vanilla cake, without butter.

Alhamdhulilah, the cake turned out great. Soft, moist and tasty.

What went in...
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of self-raising flour
2 eggs
1 tsp of vanilla essence
1 tsp of baking powder
a pinch of salt
3/4 cup of cooking oil
1/2 cup of milk

Mix the eggs and sugar together first and put everything else in. Preparation time took less than 10 minutes and cake was baked by half an hour. Do give it a try, In-Shaa-Allah.

 A neat dish, I always thought so.

I also gave this dish - spicy mutton chukka - that I have tried from this website , another go this weekend. It turned well too, Alhamdhulilah, as with other times I have tried it. I have started varying the ingredients' portions to suit our family's tastebuds.

Mum had made mutton dhalcha that day too, and I made ghee rice to accompany that. And everyone in the family enjoyed it.

Alhmadhulilah.

Thank you, Ya Rabb...

So much to be thankful for, and yet do I realise it all the times?

A family to bicker with, to love and be loved,

a job that keeps us comfortable, and gives me flexibility to take some days off for myself (like at this moment!),

Good friends who add warmth to our lives,

and a faith that keeps me grounded of this life and has me thinking constantly of the Hereafter.

SubhanAllah.

And all the senses that enable me to appreciate the raindrops falling right now.

Allahuma Soyyiban Nafi'an.

Have I thanked HIM enough?