Today is Eid for us. My MIL has been cooking since early morning. I’ve been  hiding out. I never was much for holidays so I try to be as invisible as possible. It helps that I work nights and sleep during the day so for the most part I can get away with not making an appearance. 

My husband and I don’t partake in any of the celebrations. We prefer the less commercialized non traditional way of doing things, but he and I are a minority of two. While his family doesn’t do as much as others, they still have their own traditions of food, gift giving (eidi), and visiting each other. However since my husband is the head of the household, we do give gifts to my two sister in laws and provide the food for the day as it is traditionally the head of household’s responsibility, but he and I try to be as scarce as possible for the actual festivities.

In the bigger cities, they have major celebrations with lots of sweets, fireworks, camel and horse rides for kids, kite flying, and music. We don’t attend those, but for the majority it is the way they celebrate Eid. New clothes, shoes, and jewelry are bought. They were showing how busy the markets were last night on the news and all I could do was shake my head and be thankful I was not amongst them. 

Almost all of the women have mehndi/henna applied to their hands and arms. They are usually done by professionals who apply intricate designs and details. My SIL’s both apply mehndi but they do it themselves instead of going to have it professionally done. The first two years I was here they tried and tried to get me to wear it, but I don’t wear mehndi. Never. I didn’t even wear it for my wedding which is like UNHEARD of. Now though they have pretty much given up trying to get me to put it on. Although every now and then my oldest SIL still asks me to and I still say no. 

The only thing I think I truly enjoy about today is a guilt free reason to eat biscuits (aka cookies) lol

Sab ko Eid Mubarak ho!! (Happy Eid to all)

Two days left to enter my giveaway! Enter now!

I know this past week must have been torture for you. Having to wait, wondering what the news was. I’m sure it was all you could think about. Well I FINALLY got things sorted and am so excited to announce that what started out as a little side endeavor is officially a DOT COM. 

That’s right Indie Designz (http://www.indiedesignz.com/), my cover design business has become official with its own little home on the web. Have a look. Let me know what you think. I’m an avid lover of constructive feedback. I’ve been doing my happy idiot dance all week. I can’t believe I actually kept this a secret all this time.

So in order to celebrate the launching of Indie Designz, Lizzy Ford has been kind enough to allow me to GIVEAWAY an autographed paperback copy of her latest release, Kiera’s Moon. It’s very easy to enter and there are multiple chances to win. You can do as many as you wish. All you have to do is:

1. Follow my blog (1 entry)

2. Like Indie Designz on facebook (1 entry)

3. Like Lizzy Ford Books on facebook (1 entry)

4. Follow @DafeenaJameel on twitter (1 entry)

5. Follow @LizzyFord2010 on twitter (1 entry)

(If you are already a friend or follower, then leave me a comment on my blog letting me know you want to be entered. If you don’t let me know, then you’ll not be automatically entered)

Winner will be chosen by random.org. Giveaway will remain open until next Friday (Sept 2nd). Make sure you message me or leave me a comment here on my blog letting me know which of the above you have done. If you don’t message/comment letting me know, then it won’t be counted as an official entry. It’s my first ever giveaway so I just want to be sure I don’t miss anyone. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!!

 Fantasy romance novel Kiera’s Moon is available for free ebook download.

When starving artist Kiera wakes up on board a spaceship, she panics. Her best friend has dragged her across the universe to help her find a man and a life, only the man she ends up unwittingly hooking up with is a battle-hardened warrior prince living in exile.

Calculating, cautious A’Ran wants nothing more than to reclaim his planet. He needs Kiera as his lifemate to heal his planet and his war weary people. He’s not prepared to be a lifemate himself, and discovers almost too late what he risks losing if he can’t learn to be more than a warrior.

Today I’m doing a post for SparkFest. There’s still time to join and there are prizes!! Make sure to stop back by on Friday for my big news reveal.

So here’s my answers to her questions. I did all 3 because I’m geeky like that:

I have moments of weakness. When doubt creeps into the crevices of my mind and causes me to wonder if I truly am capable of being loved, appreciated, cared for.  Most of the time when these creepers come, I can quickly throw them out  and shut the door before they have a chance to rush back inside. However, some days a few seem to sneak in without being seen. They settle in and wait until I’m not looking then they slowly make their presence known. It is during these moments I feel my weakest. When time seems to stand still and the earth stops rotating. The air hangs heavy around me and the wind blows restlessly. Even though I am at my weakest during these moments, they are also when I am at my strongest.  For it is during their reign, I become invincible. Strong, confident, and certain of the path that lies before me. I push ahead fearlessly and I achieve my greatest accomplishments. Maybe next time when the creepers come I won’t be so quick to chase them away.

I posted a few days ago about the month of Ramazan. There are always lots of special treats  that are made during this month and some main foods which are typically eaten to begin the fasting day (sahoor “morning meal”) and to open one’s fast (iftar “evening meal”). 

Usually in the mornings, a light meal is eaten. Fried paratahs are served with either yogurt or chutney. Water and juice will be drunk a long with hot tea.

The real treats are saved for the iftar meal or evening meal when the fast is broken. The first bite of food that is eaten to break the fast is typically dates. One or two dates will be eaten before eating the actual food. In our home, the fast is opened with pakorays. Each day a different pakoray will be prepared, but most often it’s either potato or eggplant which are covered in a batter made from besan (chickpea flour) and deep fried. Although you can pretty much make anything into a pakora even chicken and fish.

Samosas are also a favorite for breaking the fast. They are filled with either a chicken or potato mixture. All pakoras are served with different types of chutneys for dipping. My favorite is imli (pronounced M-lee). It is made from tamarind and has this tart sweet taste to it. It is what I use instead of yogurt for dipping pakoras and parathas.

Then after the fast has been opened the dinner will be served. There is a lot of food during Ramazan. I always wonder how on earth people eat so much, but they do. There is always rice and meats as well as desserts. Chicken biryani is a favorite in our house. It’s made at least once to twice a week. Tikkas and some type of chaat are also must haves during Ramazan.

It is also a common practice for people to gather together and break the fast. People are always inviting their neighbors, friends, and family over so they can break their fast together. Ramazan creates a real sense of community and brings people together. 

And of course, no meal is complete without dessert. Fruit chaat is served almost daily. It is basically cut up fruit mixed with spices and yogurt. It is another must have during Ramazan. There is always an endless supply of meethai (sweets) from halwa to gulab jaman. 

People who aren’t muslim always assume that because we are fasting and not eating or drinking during the day then we must be hungry and lose weight during this month. However, that is far from what happens especially for those muslims living in the Middle East and Subcontinent. Working hours are shortened and adjusted during the day so that most shops are not even open during fasting hours. They only open after the fast has been broken. Also in most countries, it is illegal for adults to eat, drink, or smoke during fasting hours in public regardless if you’re fasting or not you can’t eat or drink outside during fasting hours even if you’re non muslim. Only children are exempt from this rule.

People spend all night eating. Then sleeping for most of the day. The majority of people I know end up gaining weight because they eat things during this month that they don’t typically eat and they eat a lot more of it. I have only mentioned the MOST common things that are served but it doesn’t even begin to cover all of the different foods that are served during Ramazan. 

Some Ramazan Recipes:

Sahlab- creamy milk dessert 
Chicken Pitas with Yogurt Sauce
Gulab Jaman
Greek Chicken
Walnut Bread with Apples
Qatayef- arabic pancakes stuffed with cheese or dates