As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

I don't know if pictures are really necessary to explain how to make these cute little Butterfly Cupcakes, it's not very complicated but here they are. I made these to sell at our cupcake sale not very long ago, to raise funds for the school in Thailand. Not only were they a big hit with the children... adults loved them too, someone even asked if I'm a pastry chef! Ha.. ! (wouldn't that be nice) what a lovely compliment. AlhumduliLlah.



Insha'Allah I hope you have just as much fun making them as you would eating them.

I'm including a (very easy) recipe, although you can make these using any 'perfect' cupcake. What is a perfect cupcake you ask?... it has to have a rounded top! (above the paper liner)


Makes 12

1 3/4 cup (14oz/397.6g) flour
1 cup (8oz/16 tblsp/227g) sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 cup (8oz/237ml) milk
1/3 cup (3oz/79ml) oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
optional: pink food colour
Strawberry Jam

:: Pre-heat oven at 350°F (180°C) degrees.
:: Line 12 (regular size) muffin tin with paper liners.
:: Combine, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
:: In a separate bowl whisk together, egg, milk, oil, vanilla, colour.
:: Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and mix with wooden spoon so everything is combined well.
:: Fill liners 1/4 full, then drop a tsp of jam on, and top with more batter. (Divide batter evenly between liners.
:: Bake for approximately 25 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center of cupcake, if it comes out clean (free from batter) then they are done.
:: Cool.
:: Make frosting and get creating! (I have not provided a recipe for that).. any butter frosting would do, and depending on how you decorate you may need more or less.



Cut the top of your 'perfect' cupcake. Just above the cupcake liner.


Frost the top of the cupcake. Make sure you have a lot of frosting in the center, because you'll need to stick the wings in.


With the 'perfect' top, cut that in half. Frost as desired. These will be the wings.. so make it colourful and full of different candies.


Now you assemble it all. Push the wings into the center, lifting the edges up, you may need to add some frosting under to hold them up slightly. Then add your halal licorice antennas. And voila.. you are done! Ready to eat!

Labels: recipes

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Subhan'Allah! My dear brothers and sisters, if I could buy this cd lecture series for each one of you, I would! But unfortunately Graphic Designers that slack can't afford it..haha, insha'Allah one day. Anyway.. it's that good! It costs a little over $60 but is well worth the money, in fact, it'll probably be one of the most valuable things you'll buy.


CD Lecture Title: Lives of the Prophets
Speaker: Imam Anwar al-Awlaki
Publisher: Al-Basheer publications
Available: Islamic Bookstore

Have I learned anything from it, or was it all review? It doesn't matter how many times you have read the Qur'an (in a translation you understand) or tafseers, you'll learn something new from this, insha'Allah.

Does the speaker use Qur'anic and authentic hadith texts? Both Qur'an and hadith are used, including other sources. Every source is stated and clearly explained.

Is the information easy to understand? Absolutely! Easy to understand, and information is conveyed in such an organized manner, you're thoughts stay on track.

Notable topics? I think the 'lessons' taught throughout the series. While explaining the life of each Prophet, Imam Anwar points out how the lessons they learned, or trials they went through can be applied to our life right now! And isn't that what the Qur'an is all about.. for us to learn from it!

Out of 5: Way more than 5! 10 maybe!

Masha'Allah the Imam did such an amazing job. Please keep him and his family in your dua's.

Here is a lecture Trust In Allah by Imam Anwar al-Awlaki for you to check out, insha'Allah.

Let me know your thoughts on this cd series, or anything else you have heard/read by him.

Labels: review

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Here is a wonderful snowball effect of kindness! It's already gone through a few blogs, and I had the pleasure of picking up a piece of kindness at sister Surviving's blog.

The idea is, I'll send a handmade item to the first 3 people who leave a comment on this post asking to be part of this wonderful exchange. In return you have to 'pay it forward' by making the same promise on your blog.

I don't know when exactly I shall get the item to you, but insha'Allah I'll make my goal no later that 2008..hows that?

C'mon people, every time you have the opportunity to do good, know it's a blessing from Allah.

Note: Please leave me a contact to get your mailing address.

Labels: love

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

This is a little delayed, but I managed to find the picture and thought you could have fun with this. It works well as a craft for children, so those with little ones on summer break here is something to do.

I made this with my Sunday School children (4-7 yrs). I first taught them a lesson on kindness. One way of showing kindness is giving gifts. So the children thought about who they are going to give their magnets to, and then got creating! They had a blast, and did a wonderful job..masha'Allah.


There is a lot you can do with salt dough, but it is not like clay! The texture is different. I prefer clay for may reasons, but they are plus sides to salt dough..like it's cheap.

Over working the dough will make it sticky, so keep extra flour in a shaker close by.

In this dough I added Tempra paint to add colour. It needs a good amount of paint to turn out nice and bright. However, once it dries..it goes a dull colour. So to brighten it up, once they dried I coated them with decoupage (a mixture of white glue and some water should work too) glue. And glue-gunned a magnet at the back. (You can find magnets at a dollar store).

For yourself or older children it might be a better idea not to colour the dough and paint it once it's done.

Makes: a lot!

2 cups (16oz/455g) flour
1 cup (8oz/227g) salt
1/2 cup (4oz/118ml) water - at room tempreture
optional: 1 tblsp cooking oil (to make the dough smoother)

:: Knead together.
:: Divide dough into 3 parts (or as many colours as you want).
:: Add food colouring or paint to each part.

note:
1 tblsp oil - smoothness
1 tblsp vinegar - hardness
1 tblsp wallpaper paste - elasticity

It takes a good week to dry..and longer if the piece is thick. Or you can choose to oven dry it, but I just left them to air dry, to avoid any burning.

You can use cookie cutters to make some nice shapes.

note: they are very prone to cracking if they drop. It's still a craft to have fun with.

Labels: crafts, recipes

As-salaamu'alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu

Well here it is... my answers for the Accessorize My Hobby Swap! Insha'Allah this swap goes as well as the Cupcake one. All the sister did such an amazing job with the Cupcake Swap, the creativity, and giving was just flowing! People are still commenting in the Cupcake Album!


Four of my favourite hobbies/interests: Humm.. to narrow my list to four 'favourites' was surprisingly quite a task!

Knitting/Crocheting,

Sewing,

International Cooking,

Reading Islamic Literature

The best part of my hobby is: Knitting/Crocheting is the challenge.. love it! Sewing is waiting to see the final result. International Cooking, well..the eating for sure, but trying out new things and learning about different cultures. Reading Islamic Literature, the joy of knowledge..there isn't any way to explain it.

My favourite colour is: Green and Burnt orange.. I do love all colours though!

A new hobby/interest I've just taken up: Teaching Children and Reflective Art Journaling

The hobby/interest I hope my swap partner will choose: The one she can have fun and be most creative with!

A hobby I've tried but hate: It would have to be writing! I'm sure my blood pressure goes up every time I have to write something..urgh But I do admire those that can, masha'Allah. Yah I know, why does someone who doesn't like writing have a blog! (I get by..hehe) Ironically..I would like to write a book one day.. haha (insha'Allah)

Creativity to me, means: Being able to see the beauty in all things. (ie: from the material to the masterpiece, it's all beautiful.. AlhumduliLlah)

What I think of my purse not matching my shoes: Hehe.. well, no.. but I have a favourite bag which is army/camouflage print and my favourite shoes are black boots... so they already match, but I don't know if it goes with the rest of my clothes!... does it matter? I like them!


Insha'Allah that helps my swap partner. The best part of a swap for me..is knowing you have fun with it! So get creating!

Labels: me, swaps